Policeman who froze to death could have died in 'stage-managed' fake suicide that went wrong, says coroner

A senior policeman froze to death when he might have tried to "stage manage" a fake suicide attempt that went "tragically wrong", a coroner has said.

Ch Insp Timothy Frohwein, who the inquest heard had been twice overlooked for promotion, was found dead on moorland in the Peak District surrounded by pills and a whisky bottle.

Minutes after walking out of his family home, he sent text messages to his wife and son that led them to fear for his safety.

But Chesterfield Coroners' Court was told no trace of alcohol was found in his body and levels of the drugs in his system were way below levels considered toxic, let alone lethal.

Derbyshire Senior Coroner Dr Robert Hunter said he could not safely say that the father of three meant to kill himself.

One scenario could be that the whole thing was staged... in the hope that people would come looking for him and he would be rescued. What he did not account for was the weatherCoroner Dr Robert Hunter

He said one potential scenario was that the policeman had arranged the scene to look like he intended to take his own life believing he would be rescued, only for freezing weather and darkness to descend before anyone could.

"It is possible, that while a suicide was stage-managed to get the desired effect, things took a turn for the worst," he told the hearing.

Mr Frohwein was last seen alive as he left his home in Buxton, Derbyshire, on November 17 2013. He was spotted walking in the direction of the hills near his home.

Six days later, his body was found on Grouse Moor in the Goyt Valley by family friends helping to search for the 48-year-old.

Pathologist Dr Andrew Hitchcock told the inquest Mr Frohwein died of hypothermia. He told the court it was not possible to say exactly when death had occurred.

The pathologist said there were no signs of a heart attack. However, his lungs and stomach showed signs of hypothermia.

Toxicologist Dr Paul Smith said Mr Frohwein was found next to a half-empty bottle of whisky, but tests showed there was no alcohol found in his blood or urine.

He said this could be that the alcohol was broken down in the hours and days after death, or that it was not ingested.

Blister packs of pills were found stuffed into the stone walls of the "butt", which is used by grouse hunters, he was found next to. However, toxicology tests showed levels only consistent with "therapeutic use".

Timothy Frohwein's body was found on Grouse Moor in the Goyt Valley. File picture

A pre-inquest review had heard the officer had been overlooked for promotion on two separate occasions.

There were also marital issues and he had recently undergone knee surgery which may have "contributed to his mental state".

But Briony Ballard, representing Derbyshire Police, submitted that given the toxicology and post mortem evidence there was nothing to support a conclusion "beyond reasonable doubt" that he had taken his own life.

But Paul Clark, for the Frohwein family, argued that it was important to look at all the events that took place before the tragedy and consider it as a possibility.

Dr Hunter replied, saying the evidence pointed to Mr Frohwein dying as a result of "exposure to the elements".

"We know that he left the house on Sunday lunchtime and we also know he sent text to his wife and son about intimate issues," he said. "These texts in themselves might be evidence to suggest intent, but they are not proof of intent.

"One can envisage a scenario were he has voluntarily left the house, gone up into the High Peak, sent texts to put people in a state of panic or fear.

"He may have poured half a bottle of whisky on to the ground or drunk it. He also placed a number of blister packs of pills in crevices of the stone butt. He may have taken some, but that contradicts the toxicology reports."

Tim Frohwein walking down a residential road after leaving his Buxton home on November 17, 2013Credit:
SWNS

Dr Hunter added: "One scenario could be that the whole thing was staged by Mr Frohwein, the drugs, the half empty bottle, the text messages, in the hope that people would come looking for him and he would be rescued. What he did not account for was the weather.

"With the visibility affected by fog and darkness falling he may have thought it prudent to stay where he was and that people would come to the rescue.

"However, things went tragically wrong because of the weather and that took its toll before he was found.

"On the balance of the evidence I can't be sure that Mr Frohwein necessarily had the intention to take his own life or that it was a direct result of his own actions.

"It's possible that while a suicide was stage managed to get the desired effect, things took a turn for the worst."

Timothy Frohwein was a father of three from Buxton, DerbyshireCredit:
SWNS

The coroner added he may have had a row and simply gone for a walk to calm down, but he said "there is certainly not enough evidence to suggest suicide".

Dr Hunter told Mr Clark if he was to consider a conclusion of suicide he would have to hear "warts and all" evidence about every aspect of Mr Frohwein's private and professional life.

Mr Frohwein, a member of the Christian Police Association, had 20 years' service in the police. He had served widely across Derbyshire, headed up roads policing and was the operations chief inspector at Chesterfield at the time of his death.